The Nanny Mobile

My boyfriend has teased me about my nickname really being "Lynn Poppins" in reference to Disney's Mary Poppins.  I bring activities with me in my "Nanny Bag" as I explained but I also have worked out another way to help me bring activities.

My car is now also nicknamed the Nanny Mobile.  I've taken the large boxes and organized my games to be in the back of my car.  Often, kids get tired of the same old games all the time so I like to have my games with me as back ups. 

Here are some pictures for you to see my setup!  I will include stores I found the games at and the approximate price that I remember.  Yes, this did take money as well as time but I have these games and can be reused unlike crafts!

Here is the Nanny Mobile!  The box on the left contains games for younger children ages 3-8.  The box on the right contains games for older children ages 7-12.



Younger box contains the games: SORRY! (Yard Sale $1), Handy Manny Picture Find (Target $3), Princess Monopoly Jr. (Yard Sale $2), Hi-Ho-Cherry-O (Target $2), Scrabble Jr. (Bookmans Free!), Disney Cars 10 Game Set (Target $7), Mancala (Yard Sale $1) 

 

The box for older children contains these games:  Apples to Apples-Kids (Bookmans-Free!), Outburst Jr (Bookmans-Free!), Disney Monopoly (Bookmans-Free!), Monopoly (Target $3), Life (Yardsale $1)

When I took out Outburst and Apples to Apples you can see more games:  2 Clue Jr games (Target $2, Bookmans-Free!), SpongeBob Cranium (Target $4), Yahtzee (Wal-mart $7), Cadoo (Goodwill $2)

Bookmans is one of my favorite stores where I can use store trade to buy games, so yes I claim this is FREE because I don't have to use real money for the games!  Stay tuned for a Post all about Bookmans!

The Nanny Bag

One basic aspect of nannying is bringing the games, crafts, or activities to the children.  I thought I would start with explaining how I put together my bags and decide what to bring to each family.

For a family I watched with two girls ages 5 and 7 here is a picture of what I would bring.

For babysitting girls:  Yahtzee Jr. Princess ($5 Target), Princess Coloring Book ($5 Walmart), Disney Princess 10 Game Kit (Target $7), Stickers ($1 Michaels), Crayons (Target), 3 Books (Free - Bookmans!), Hello Kitty Games-Go Fish, Old Maid, and Bingo ($5 Easter Sale - Big Lots)

I like to use the large reusable bags that I have found different places.  My two favorites are my bags from SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo because they are large but carry the supplies well.  Planning my bag depends on the children I will be watching for the day.  I have been able to keep a notebook on families either if it will be boys or girls and what kinds of activities they like - I can elaborate on this in another post. 

My re-usable bag from a trip to San Diego in February 2010!

Here is my packed nanny bag!

The Beginning

I should begin at the beginning of my story and tell you how "Miss Lynn" came to be my name.  My babysitter as a child was amazing.  Her name was "Toby" and I remember idolizing her and thinking she was the coolest girl that I would ever know.  I was about 4 when my parents found her and had her babysit for my brother and I.  Sadly, we moved away after 2 short years of living year Toby.  After moving Toby  became my childhood penpal and we stayed in touch for about 8 years after my family moved away.


I don't have a lot of memories from when I was 4 being with Toby.  I remember small things really - like how she could braid my hair in really cool ways.  But I do remember when we would be able to go visit Toby and how she would take me more places as I got older.  I remember going to the MU at Oregon State (yes! I grew up in Oregon) to go bowling with her when I was about 9 or 10.  She was an older girl, who took an interest in being nice to me and helping me to grow into the person I am today.


If I fast forward a few years into middle school, I have a confession to make.  I can remember I was obsessed with the Babysitter's Club books by Ann M. Martin.  I read over a hundred of the books and drove my mom nuts with tracking down books from Powell's Bookstore in Portland, OR or the library.


For those of you that don't know, the girls in the Babysitter's Club would book babysitting jobs and bring along kits of toys, games, and crafts for kids to do while the parents are away.  This is the model I follow when I nanny.  I love to bring toys, games, special movies, or crafts for children to do.  I have found in my experience the more you can keep kids engaged and active, the less likely they are to have temper tantrums and fight with one another.  Also, parents are happier when they come home and realize their kids didn't watch tv all day - or night!


This blog will help give recommendations for finding or creating games, scoring children related deals, and craft ideas that won't break the bank. 


Enjoy and let me know how these ideas work for you!